System for adjusting solar cell modules according to the sun&#39;s position

ABSTRACT

System for adjusting solar cell modules of a solar installation according to the sun&#39;s position, comprising a drive device for a group of drive units, for adjusting the solar cell modules, wherein a control unit is associated with each drive unit, and the drive units are connected to a shared power supply as well as a data bus, wherein the group of control units are connected via a shared power and data transmission line to a bus coupler, the bus coupler is coupled to the power supply for coupling energy, as well as to the data bus for coupling data, into the power and data transmission line, and one of the control units is designed as master control unit, and the additional control units of the group are designed as slave control units, and controllable via the power and data line by means of the master control unit.

The invention relates to a system for adjusting solar cell modules of asolar installation according to the sun's position, comprising a drivedevice for a group of drive units for adjusting the solar cell module,wherein a control unit is associated with each drive unit, and thecontrol units are connected to a shared power supply as well as to adata bus.

Such a system is described, for example, in DE-B-10 2007 050 031. Saidsystem comprises a drive device with a drive unit associated with thesolar module, for adjusting the solar module according to the sun'sposition, and a control unit for controlling the drive unit, wherein aplurality of control units, each comprising an alternating-currentconverter, and/or a plurality of drive units, are supplied withelectrical power by means of a shared battery unit, wherein the batteryunit, during normal operation, can be charged with a charger arrangedbetween the power supply network and the battery unit.

The drive device comprises, besides the plurality of drive units and theplurality of control units, a decentralized control module which isconnected to the drive user modules of the control units via a bussystem. For this purpose, the decentralized control module is designedas a bus master, and the drive user modules as bus slaves.

In each case, a drive control unit which comprises a converter and adrive user module is arranged before the drive units.

In each case, each one of the converters is connected, on the inputside, via a power supply line to a battery unit, and, on the outputside, to the drive unit. The battery unit is connected, on the inputside, via a charger to a power supply network which makes available, forexample, an alternate current voltage of 230 V.

Since both a bus system and separate power supply lines are provided foreach drive control, one can expect, particularly in large solarinstallations, high cabling costs for the data bus as well as the powersupply. Furthermore, each control unit must present both a connectionfor a data bus and a connection for the power supply line.

DE-A-10 2009 039 044 discloses a photovoltaic installation with at leastone solar cell unit which is adjusted in two preferably mutuallyperpendicular axes according to the sun's position. For each of the twoaxes, a program controlled drive is provided. The drive systems of thesolar cell unit present in each case a computer controlled controlsystem which at least generates control signals from target value data,and which collects and/or processes measured data. One of the drivesystems of the solar cell unit is designed as master drive and the otheras slave drive, wherein the master drive makes available target valuedata for the slave drive, and collects measured data of at least theslave drive. The master drive is designed in such a manner that itcoordinates the operation of the slave drive, and makes available atleast target value data and measured data for the slave drive.

The present invention is based on the problem of further developing asystem for adjusting solar cell modules according to the sun's position,in such a manner that both the control and the hardware wiring aresimplified.

To solve the problem, the invention provides essentially that the groupof control units is connected via a shared power and data transmissionline to a bus coupler, that the bus coupler is connected to the powersupply for coupling energy, as well as to the data bus for couplingdata, into the power and data transmission line, and that one of thecontrol units is designed as master control unit, and the additionalcontrol units of the group are designed as slave control units, andcontrollable via the power and data line by means of the master controlunit.

The power and data lines are preferably designed as power line. As aresult, the possibility exists to couple the control units in a simplemanner to each other, and simultaneously transmit power and data.

In a preferred embodiment, the slave control units are controllablesynchronously by the master control unit.

In an additional preferred embodiment, a solar cell module is associatedwith each drive unit. In this case, both the drive units and the solarcell modules are mechanically uncoupled. Alternatively, the solar cellmodules can be coupled mechanically via a support. In this case, thedrive units are also coupled mechanically.

According to an additionally preferred embodiment, the power-datatransmission line is designed as a three wire line, wherein the signaltransmission occurs via a supply voltage network, for example, the 230 Vnetwork or 120 V network.

An additional advantage of the invention is characterized in that agroup of control units can be connected directly to a GPS sensor orequivalent sensor, so that data can be coupled into a group of controlunits.

Alternatively, the possibility exists to couple geodata via the centralbus system into the power and data transmission line.

According to an additional preferred embodiment, a group of controlunits comprises the master control unit and any desired number of slavecontrol units, preferably 14 slave control units.

The groups of control units are preferably uncoupled from each other viadata filter units.

An additional preferred embodiment is characterized in that the controlunit and the drive unit form one unit, wherein the control unit can beintegrated directly in the drive unit, i.e., in the drive system ormotor.

It is provided that the drive units are controllable for the definitionof a zero setting or reference setting, and can be moved in a controlledmanner into a terminal position against a terminal abutment. As aresult, it is possible to omit additional devices for the one-timeacquisition of the absolute position, for example, a reference sensor.

The control unit preferably presents a connection for the power and dataline, wherein each control unit is connected via a coupling element tothe power and data transmission line. Alternatively, the control unitcan also have two connections for the power and data transmission line,wherein the power and data transmission line is looped through thecontrol unit.

Additional details, advantages and characteristics of the invention arepresented not only in the claims, and the characteristics that can betaken from said claims—individually and/or in combination—but also inthe following description of a preferred embodiment which can be takenfrom the drawing.

The single FIGURE shows a system SYS for adjusting solar cell modulesSZM of a solar installation SA according to the sun's position.

The system SYS comprises a drive device AER with a group of drive unitsAE for adjusting the solar cell modules SZM. The drive units AE areconnected in each case to control units MASE, SASE.

The control units MASE, SASE are connected via a shared power and datatransmission line EDL to a bus coupler BK. Via the bus coupler BK, thedrive units MASE, SASE are coupled to a central power supply line EN forcoupling energy, as well as to a central data bus DB for coupling data,into the power and data transmission line EDL.

One of the control units MASE, SASE is designed as master control unitMASE, while the additional control units of the group are designed asslave control units SASA, which can be controlled by means of the mastercontrol unit MASE via the power and data line EDL.

In the represented embodiment example, the power and data line EDL isdesigned as power line.

The slave drive controls are controlled synchronously by the masterdrive control, wherein the latter is preferably looped through thecontrol units MASE, SASE.

A solar cell module SZM is usually associated with each drive unit AE.In this case, the solar cell modules SZM are mechanically uncoupled.Alternatively, the solar cell modules SZM can also be coupledmechanically to each other via a support T.

The power and data line EDL connecting the group of drive controls AScan be connected or coupled directly to a GPS sensor SEN or equivalentsensor.

The solar installation SA can have a plurality of groups AER which arealso coupled via a coupling element BK the with the central power supplyEV as well as the bus system DB.

The group AER of control units ASE comprises the master control unitMASE and preferably 14 slave control units SASE.

Due to the shared power and data transmission line EDL, the cabling costis considerably reduced, and the designs of the control units ASE areconsiderably simplified, particularly with regard to the design of thecable connections, in comparison to the state of the art. In particular,the control units require no bus connection.

Geodata sent via the central bus line DB can be reported via the powerand data transmission line EDL, or alternatively the GPS sensor SEN canbe coupled directly to the power and data transmission line EDL or oneof the control units ASE.

1. System (SYS) for adjusting solar cell modules (SZM) of a solarinstallation (SA) according to the sun's position, comprising a drivedevice (AER) for a group of drive units (AE), for adjusting the solarcell modules (SZM), wherein a control unit (ASE) is associated with eachdrive unit (AE), and the drive units (ASE) are connected to a sharedpower supply (EV) as well as a data bus (DS), characterized in that thegroup of control units (ASE) are connected via a shared power and datatransmission line (EDL) to a bus coupler (BK), the bus coupler (BK) iscoupled to the power supply (EV) for coupling energy, as well as to thedata bus for coupling data, into the power and data transmission line(EDL), and one of the control units (ASE) is designed as master controlunit (MASE), and the additional control units (ASE) of the group aredesigned as slave control units (SASE), and controllable via the powerand data line (EDL) by means of the master control unit (MASE). 2.System according to claim 1, characterized in that the power and dataline (EDL) is designed as power line.
 3. System according to claim 1,characterized in that the slave control units (SASE) are controllablesynchronously by the master control unit (MASE).
 4. System according toclaim 1, characterized in that at least one solar cell module (SZM) isassociated with each drive unit (AE), wherein the drive units (AE) aremechanically coupled or mechanically uncoupled via the solar cellmodules (SZM) or supports (T) thereof.
 5. System according to claim 1,characterized in that the power and data line (EDL) is designed as athree wire line, wherein the signal transmission occurs via a supplyvoltage network, such as, the 230 V network or 120 V network.
 6. Systemaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the power and data line(EDL) connecting the group of control units (ASE) is connected orcoupled directly to a GPS sensor (SEN) or equivalent sensor.
 7. Systemaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the central data bus (DB) isconnected to a central control/monitoring device (STE), through whichthe geodata are sent to the drive units (AE).
 8. System according toclaim 1, characterized in that a group of control units (ASE) comprisesthe master control unit (MASE) and any desired number of slave controlunits (SASE), preferably 14 slave control units (SASE).
 9. Systemaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (ASE) andthe drive unit (AE) form one unit.
 10. System according to claim 1,characterized in that the drive units (AE), for the definition of a zerosetting or reference setting, can be moved in a controlled manner into aterminal position against a terminal abutment.
 11. System according toclaim 1, characterized in that the control unit (ASE) comprises twoconnections for the power and data transmission line (EDL), wherein thepower and data transmission line (EDL) is looped through the controlunit (ASE), or in that the control unit (ASE) presents a connection forthe power and data transmission line (EDL), and is connected to thelatter via a coupling element.